With NCERT Solutions Class 10 Maths Chapter 3 Linear Equations in Two Variables Exercise 3.5, students can effectively enhance their skills when it comes to solving a pair of linear equations in two variables. The exercise focuses on the cross-multiplication method for solving these equations. Cross-multiplication is useful for solving certain equations that cannot be solved using other methods of linear equations. Here, students can find some valuable insights into the concepts for solving the exercise, along with the NCERT Solutions Class 10 Maths Chapter 3 Exercise 3.5 PDF.
Before we step into the solutions of the exercise, let’s just briefly discuss the method of cross multiplication itself. It is one of the most important methods of solving a pair of linear equations alongside elimination and substitution. To use the method, a pair of linear equations in two variables must be written in standard form, like this:
Here, a1, a2, b1, and b2 are the coefficients of x and y, respectively, while c1 and c2 are the constants of the pair of equations. The method involves manipulating these coefficients of constants and variables to determine the values of x and y directly.
The first set of questions in exercise 3.5 involves finding the values of variables with the method of cross multiplication.
Exercise 3.5 mainly involves different types of mathematical and real-life problems solved by the method of cross-multiplication. So, let’s briefly explore some important concepts used in solving these problems:
This cross multiplication gives rise to the formula to find the value of x and y. These formulas are:
The cross-multiplication method is applied only when the pair of linear equations satisfies the following conditions for a solution. These conditions are:
For a deeper understanding and to master the Cross-Multiplication Method, practice solving problems from the NCERT Solutions Class 10 Maths Chapter 3 Linear Equations in Two Variables Exercise 3.5.
1. Which of the following pairs of linear equations has a unique solution, no solution, or infinitely many solutions. In case there is a unique solution, find it by using a cross multiplication method.
(i) x - 3y - 3 = 0, 3x - 9y - 2 = 0
(ii) 2x + y = 5, 3x + 2y = 8
(iii) 3x - 5y = 20, 6x - 10y = 40
(iv) x - 3y - 7 = 0, 3x - 3y - 15 = 0
Solution:
(i) x - 3y - 3 = 0, 3x - 9y - 2 = 0
a1/a2 = 1/3, b1/b2 = -3/-9 = 1/3, c1/c2 = 3/2
=> a1/a2 = b1/b2 ≠ c1/c2
Hence, no solution.
(ii) 2x + y = 5
and 3x + 2y = 8
a1/a2 ≠ b1/b2 (a1/a2 = 2/3, b1/b2 = 1/2)
Here, we have a unique solution. By cross multiplication, we have:
=> x/{(1)(-8) - (2)(-5)} = y/{(-5)(3) - (-8)(2)} = 1/{(2)(2) - (3)(1)}
=> x/(-8 + 10) = y/(-15 + 16) = 1/(4 - 3)
=> x/2 = y/1 = 1/1
=> x/2 = 1/1 and y/1 = 1/1
=> x = 2 and y = 1
(iii) 3x - 5y = 20
6x - 10y = 40
a1/a2 = 3/6 = 1/2, b1/b2 = -5/-10 = 1/2, c1/c2 = 20/40 = 1/2
∴ a1/a2 = b1/b2 = c1/c2
Hence, infinite solutions.
(iv) x - 3y - 7 = 0
3x - 3y - 15 = 0
a1/a2 = 1/3, b1/b2 = 1, c1/c2 = 7/15
∴ a1/a2 ≠ b1/b2
Hence, a unique solution.
x/{(-3)(-15) - (-3)(-7)} = y/{3 × (-7) - 1 × (-15)} = 1/{1 × (-3) - 3(-3)}
=> x/(45 - 21) = y/(-21 + 15) = 1/(-3 + 9)
=> x/24 = y/-6 = 1/6
x = 24/6 = 4, y = -6/6 = -1
2. (i) For which values of a and b does the following pair of linear equations have an infinite number of solutions?
2x + 3y = 7
(a - b)x + (a + b)y = 3a + b - 2
(ii) For which value of k will the following pair of linear equations have no solution?
3x + y = 1
(2k - 1)x + (k - 1)y = 2k + 1.
Solution:
(i) 2x + 3y - 7 = 0
(a - b)x + (a + b)y - (3a + b - 2) = 0
For infinite number of solutions, we have:
(a - b) / 2 = (a + b) / 3 = (3a + b - 2) / 7
For the first and second ratios, we have:
(a - b) / 2 = (a + b) / 3
3(a - b) = 2(a + b)
3a - 3b = 2a + 2b
a = 5b ... (1)
From the second and third ratios, we have:
(a + b) / 3 = (3a + b - 2) / 7
7(a + b) = 3(3a + b - 2)
7a + 7b = 9a + 3b - 6
4b = 2a - 6
2b = a - 3 ... (2)
From (1) and (2), eliminating a:
2b = 5b - 3
3b = 3
b = 1
Substituting b = 1 in (1), we get:
a = 5(1)
a = 5
(ii) 3x + y = 1
(2k - 1)x + (k - 1)y = 2k + 1
For no solution, we have:
a1 / a2 = b1 / b2 ≠ c1 / c2
3 / (2k - 1) = 1 / (k - 1) ≠ 1 / (2k + 1)
So, 3 / (2k - 1) = 1 / (k - 1) and 1 / (k - 1) ≠ 1 / (2k + 1)
3(k - 1) = 2k - 1 and 2k + 1 ≠ k - 1
3k - 3 = 2k - 1 and k ≠ -2
k = 2 and k ≠ -2
Therefore, k = 2.
3. Solve the following pair of linear equations by the substitution and cross-multiplication methods:
8x + 5y = 9
3x + 2y = 4
Solution:
By substitution method:
8x + 5y = 9 ... (1)
3x + 2y = 4 ... (2)
From (2), we get:
x = (4 - 2y) / 3 ... (3)
Substituting x from (3) in (1), we get:
8((4 - 2y) / 3) + 5y = 9
(32 - 16y) / 3 + 5y = 9
32 - 16y + 15y = 27
32 - y = 27
y = 5
Substituting y = 5 in (2), we get:
3x + 2(5) = 4
3x + 10 = 4
3x = -6
x = -2
Hence, x = -2, y = 5.
By cross-multiplication method:
8x + 5y = 9 ... (1)
3x + 2y = 4 ... (2)
x / (5(-4) - 2(-9)) = y / (3(-9) - 8(-4)) = 1 / (8(2) - 3(5))
x / (-20 + 18) = y / (-27 + 32) = 1 / (16 - 15)
x / (-2) = y / 5 = 1 / 1
x = -2
y = 5
Hence, x = -2, y = 5.
4. Form the pair of linear equations in the following problems and find their solutions (if they exist) by any algebraic method.
(i) A part of monthly hostel charges is fixed and the remaining depends on the number of days one has taken food in the mess. When a student A takes food for 20 days she has to pay ₹ 1000 as hostel charges whereas a student B, who takes food for 26 days, pays ₹ 1180 as hostel charges. Find the fixed charges and the cost of food per day.
(ii) A fraction becomes 31 when 1 is subtracted from the numerator and it becomes 41 when 8 is added to its denominator. Find the fraction.
(iii) Yash scored 40 marks in a test, getting 3 marks for each right answer and losing 1 mark for each wrong answer. Had 4 marks been awarded for each correct answer and 2 marks been deducted for each incorrect answer, then Yash would have scored 50 marks. How many questions were there in the test?
(iv) Places A and B are 100 km apart on a highway. One car starts from A and another from B at the same time. If the cars travel in the same direction at different speeds, they meet in 5 hours. If they travel towards each other, they meet in 1 hour. What are the speeds of the two cars?
(v) The area of a rectangle gets reduced by 9 square units if its length is reduced by 5 units and breadth is increased by 3 units. If we increase the length by 3 units and the breadth by 2 units, the area increases by 67 square units. Find the dimensions of the rectangle.
Solution:
(i) Let the fixed charge be x and charges of food for 1 day be y.
So, x+20y=1000 ..(1)
x+26y=1180 ..(2)
Subtracting (1) from (2), we get
6y=180;y=30
Substituting y in (1), we get
x+20×30=1000
x=1000−600
x=400
So, fixed charge =₹400 and charges of food for 1 day = ₹ 30
(ii) Let the fraction be yx
Then, yx−1=31 ..(1)
y+8x=41 ..(2)
From (1) and (2), we get
3x−3=y or 3x−y=3 ..(3)
4x=y+8 or 4x−y=8 ..(4)
Subtracting (3) from (4), we get
4x−y−3x+y=5
x=5
Substituting x in (3), we get
3×5−y=3
y=12
So, the required fraction is 125
(iii) Number of right answers =x.
Number of wrong answers =y
Then, 3x−y=40 ..(1)
4x−2y=50 ..(2)
Multiplying (1) by 2 , we get
6x−2y=80 ..(3)
Subtracting (2) from (3), we get
2x=30
⇒x=15
Substituting x=15, in (1), we get
45−y=40
⇒y=5
Total questions =x+y=15+5=20
(iv) Speed of car i = x km/hr
Speed of car ii = y km/hr
First case :
Two cars meet at C after 5 hrs .
AC−BC=AB
⇒5x−5y=100
Second case :
Two cars meet at C after one hour
x+y=100
Multiplying (2) by 5 , we get
5x+5y=500
Adding (1) and (3), we get
10x=600
⇒x=60 km/hr
Substituting x=60 km/hr in (2), we get y=40 km/hr
Speed of car (i) =60 km/hr
Speed of car (ii) =40 km/hr
(v) In the first case, the area is reduced by 9 square units.
Length =x units
When length =x−5 units
And breadth =y+3 units
⇒xy−(x−5)×(y+3)=9
In the second case area increases by 67 sq. units when length =x+3 and breadth =y+2.
⇒(x+3)×(y+2)−xy=67
Solving both equations, we get
xy−xy−3x+5y+15=9
3x−5y=6
xy+2x+3y+6−xy=67
2x+3y=61
Multiplying (3) by 3 and (4) by 5 , we get
9x−15y=18
10x+15y=305
Adding, we get
19x=323
⇒x=17
By putting x=17, we get y=9
(Session 2025 - 26)